Tuesday, 13 August 2013

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas has asked Palestinian leaders to gather at his headquarters in Ramallah on Tuesday night to welcome veteran prisoners expected to be released by Israel.

Abbas and several leaders will receive the freed prisoners at midnight, the Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh told Ma'an.

Israel has agreed to release 104 prisoners detained since before the 1993 Oslo Accords in stages throughout negotiations with the PLO.. The first group of 26 are expected to be released before peace talks resume in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Israeli media reported that the prisoners would be freed between midnight and dawn on Wednesday to reduce scenes of joy among Palestinians welcoming the returning prisoners. more